In news that should reassure many pregnant women, having an epidural during childbirth won’t increase the child’s risk of autism, researchers report. The new findings refute a widely criticized 2020 study that said epidurals were associated with a 37% higher risk of autism. Experts said that study didn’t account for numerous socioeconomic, genetic and medical… read on > read on >
People who eat plenty of vegetables, fish and fiber may have more inflammation-fighting bacteria in their guts, but fast-food lovers may be feeding inflammatory microbes. That’s the conclusion of a new study that looked at people’s diet habits and the makeup of their gut “microbiome.” The term refers to the vast collection of bacteria and… read on > read on >
Half of all Americans aged 18 or older have now gotten at least one shot in the arm of a COVID-19 vaccine, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced Sunday. The agency said that almost 130 million people — 50.4% of the U.S. adult population — have received at least one dose of… read on > read on >
Bye-bye Zoom meetings: As America begins to emerge from the pandemic, many companies are welcoming employees back into physical work spaces. But Taylor Villanueva, an entrepreneurship specialist at the Girl Scouts of Orange County, counts herself among the millions of Americans who might be feeling just a little anxious about that transition. “Initially, I was… read on > read on >
Most people know obesity can lead to diabetes or heart disease, but excess weight can play a role in cancer, too, researchers say. A new study found that breast cancer survivors who are overweight have a statistically significant increased risk of developing a second primary cancer – one not connected to their previous cancer. The… read on > read on >
Seasonal allergies are striking this year at the worst possible time, with the United States in the midst of a fourth wave of the global COVID-19 pandemic. You’ve got an itchy nose and watery eyes. Or maybe you’ve got a fever and a sore throat. Or you’ve developed a cough and you have trouble breathing.… read on > read on >
Black people experience more severe courses of multiple sclerosis (MS), and now new research suggests that drugs commonly used to treat this disease may not work as well or for as long in these folks. “I was amazed,” said study researcher Dr. Gregg Silverman, a professor of medicine at NYU Langone Health in New York… read on > read on >
The respiratory health risks among people who live near oil wells in Los Angeles are similar to the risks from daily exposure to secondhand smoke or living near a freeway, researchers say. In a new study, they also found that people of color are disproportionately affected by respiratory problems such as wheezing and reduced lung… read on > read on >
Exercise can provide a much-needed mental health boost during the COVID-19 pandemic. But stress and anxiety may hold you back, new research suggests. According to a survey by researchers at McMaster University in Canada, some people may need mental health support to exercise during the pandemic. “Maintaining a regular exercise program is difficult at the… read on > read on >
Children who have a sudden lowering of their resting heart rate as they move into young adulthood may be at increased risk for heart disease later in life, researchers report. For their new study, they assessed data from 759 Black and white participants in the Augusta Heart Study, which was designed to evaluate the development… read on > read on >
